The Smart Way to Set Amazon PPC Bids for New Keywords

One of the most common and costly mistakes Amazon sellers make with PPC is this:

🚫 They guess their bids when adding new keywords.

Whether you’re launching a brand-new product or expanding an existing campaign, setting the wrong bid from the start can do serious damage—burning your budget, missing impressions, or distorting your campaign data.

But here’s the good news:
👉 There’s a smarter, more strategic way to set Amazon PPC bids for new keywords—and in this post, we’re going to walk you through it step-by-step.

We’ll cover:

✅ Why setting the right bid from day one matters
✅ The dangers of guessing or using default bids
✅ How to research and determine competitive bid ranges
✅ Smart bidding strategies for short-term data and long-term profit
✅ Optimization tips for refining bids once performance data rolls in

Let’s jump in.

🎯 Why Your Initial PPC Bid Matters More Than You Think

Amazon’s advertising algorithm is built around auction-based bidding. That means:

  • You set a max bid
  • Amazon compares it to other sellers’ bids
  • Your ad’s visibility depends on how your bid stacks up plus your ad relevancy and performance history

Here’s the kicker:
👉 When you add a new keyword to a campaign, Amazon has no performance data yet.

So if your bid is too low, Amazon may not give it enough impressions to even test.
If your bid is too high, you may win placements that cost you more than the keyword is worth.

Getting the bid “just right” gives you a chance to earn impressions, collect data, and scale efficiently.

🚨 What Happens When You Guess (or Use Default Bids)

Let’s say you just added 50 new keywords to a campaign.

Option A: You copy and paste the same bid for every one.
Option B: You use Amazon’s “suggested bid” without question.
Option C: You randomly plug in what you think is competitive.

The problem?

  • Some keywords are low competition and your high bid will overspend
  • Others are high competition and your low bid won’t even show
  • You miss out on valuable A/B testing insights
  • Your campaign becomes inefficient or unscalable

The result:
🔥 You burn ad dollars without gaining actionable performance data.

📊 How to Research Smart Bid Ranges for New Keywords

Before setting any bid, you need to do some groundwork. Here’s how:

1. Use Amazon’s Suggested Bids—But With Caution

In Campaign Manager, when you add keywords, Amazon provides a suggested bid and a range.

This is based on historical competition and recent trends, but it’s not perfect.

What to look for:

  • Suggested bid = Starting point
  • Low end of the range = Conservative test
  • High end of the range = Aggressive test

📌 Tip: For brand new keywords, avoid going straight to the high end unless it’s a high-priority or highly relevant keyword.

2. Use Tools Like Helium 10, Jungle Scout, or SellerApp

Keyword research tools can show:

  • Average CPCs
  • Search volume
  • Historical trends
  • Seasonality
  • Organic competition

📌 Tip: Keywords with high search volume but low CPCs are prime opportunities for affordable traffic and fast data.

3. Analyze Your Own Historical Campaign Data

If you’re launching keywords related to existing products or campaigns:

  • Look at CPCs and conversion rates for similar keywords
  • Use those as a baseline for your new bids
  • Aim for comparable performance

📌 Tip: Your best-performing keywords can offer clues about what your target ACoS should be, too.

🧠 Smart Bidding Strategies for New Keywords

Once you’ve done your homework, it’s time to launch your new keywords with smart bids. Here are 3 proven approaches:

1. Tiered Bid Testing Strategy (Most Recommended)

Set up multiple ad groups with the same keyword but different bid levels.

  • Ad Group A: Low bid (e.g., $0.50)
  • Ad Group B: Medium bid (e.g., $0.75)
  • Ad Group C: High bid (e.g., $1.00)

Watch which bid level gains impressions, clicks, and conversions. Pause or scale based on results.

📌 Why it works:
You can test where your keyword is most profitable without guessing. And you get clear insight into where the bid is too low, just right, or too expensive.

2. Keyword Prioritization Strategy

Not all keywords are created equal. Assign different bid strategies based on the value of the keyword.

High-value keywords:

  • Highly relevant to your product
  • High buyer intent
  • Use aggressive bids to win impressions and collect early data

Medium-value keywords:

  • Related terms or secondary use cases
  • Use moderate bids

Low-priority or exploratory keywords:

  • Lower intent or broader keywords
  • Use conservative bids to test cost-effectiveness

📌 Why it works:
This approach lets you manage budget risk while still discovering profitable terms.

3. Break Keywords into Match Types with Adjusted Bids

When adding a new keyword, break it into:

  • Exact Match — Set highest bid (most relevant)
  • Phrase Match — Set moderate bid
  • Broad Match — Set lowest bid (discovery mode)

This helps you:

  • Control relevancy
  • Discover long-tail variations
  • Keep testing costs manageable

📌 Why it works:
You maximize keyword coverage without blowing your budget on low-converting broad terms.

💡 Tips to Optimize Bids After Initial Testing

Your first bid isn’t your final bid. Once data starts rolling in, adjust based on performance.

Watch These Key Metrics:

  • CTR (Click-Through Rate): If low, consider changing title/image or reducing bid
  • CVR (Conversion Rate): If high, raise bids to scale
  • CPC (Cost Per Click): Compare to profit margin to see if it’s sustainable
  • ACOS (Advertising Cost of Sale): Track against your target ACoS

📌 Optimization Window:
Give new keywords 7–14 days to collect enough data before making major changes (unless performance is drastically bad).

Use Negative Keywords to Clean Up

Don’t just bid up winners—eliminate losers.

Add search terms with:

  • 10+ clicks and no sales
  • Irrelevant queries
  • Poor conversion history

as Negative Exact or Negative Phrase to prevent further waste.

Scale Slowly and Monitor TACOS

As keywords begin to perform:

  • Gradually increase bids
  • Track how it affects both paid and organic sales
  • Watch your TACOS to ensure your ad efforts are driving total revenue, not just ad clicks

🚀 Real-World Example: How Smart Bidding Saves You $$$

Let’s say you’re launching a premium yoga mat.

You’re targeting the keyword “eco-friendly yoga mat”, and Amazon’s suggested bid is $1.20.

Instead of guessing, you:

  • Create 3 ad groups: $0.80, $1.00, $1.20
  • Monitor for 10 days
  • See that $1.00 gets 90% of the impressions and conversions
  • Pause the $0.80 and $1.20 groups
  • Scale up $1.00 group with a slightly higher daily budget

Result?
You now know the most profitable bid zone for this keyword—and you scaled without overspending.

📋 Smart Bid Setting Checklist for New Keywords

Before launching new keywords, make sure you:

✅ Research keyword CPCs and competition
✅ Review Amazon’s suggested bid ranges
✅ Categorize keywords by value and intent
✅ Break keywords into match types
✅ Start with test bids—not maximum bids
✅ Set clear goals (ACOS, CTR, CVR)
✅ Plan to evaluate and adjust after 7–14 days
✅ Use negative keywords to eliminate waste
✅ Monitor both ACOS and TACOS

✍️ Final Thoughts: Smart Bidding = Smarter Scaling

The smartest Amazon sellers don’t guess.
They test, measure, and refine based on real performance data.

By setting your initial bids with intention—backed by research and structured testing—you’ll:

✅ Gain faster insight
✅ Protect your budget
✅ Scale high-performing keywords with confidence
✅ Avoid expensive trial-and-error mistakes

So the next time you add new keywords, don’t guess your bid.

👉 Use strategy, not luck—and let the data guide the way.

Need help optimizing your PPC bids or launching a new product the smart way?
At Marketplace Valet, we help sellers create data-driven ad campaigns designed to scale profitably—without wasting a dollar.

📩 Let’s talk about your next keyword strategy.

#AmazonFBA #PPCStrategy #AmazonSellers #KeywordBidding #FBA2025 #MarketplaceValet #AmazonPPC #SmartSelling #AdOptimization #SellOnAmazon

Stop Relying on Just TACOS! Here’s What Amazon Sellers Should Track

If you’re an Amazon seller who’s serious about scaling, you’ve probably heard this advice before:

“Keep your TACOS low!”

And yes, TACOS (Total Advertising Cost of Sale) is a valuable metric. It helps you understand your advertising spend in the context of your total sales, not just the ones that come directly from ads.

But here’s the problem:
👉 TACOS is not enough.

It’s a great high-level KPI, but if you’re using it as your only guide, you’re likely:

  • Making short-sighted ad decisions
  • Missing warning signs in your data
  • Leaving massive growth potential on the table

In this post, we’ll explore:

✅ Why TACOS matters—but only to a point
✅ The blind spots that come from tracking only TACOS
✅ The critical Amazon metrics every seller should monitor
✅ How to build a well-rounded data strategy for profitable, scalable growth

Let’s dive in.

🌮 A Quick Refresher: What Is TACOS?

TACOS stands for Total Advertising Cost of Sale. It’s calculated like this:

TACOS = (Total Ad Spend á Total Sales) x 100

It’s different from ACOS, which only considers ad-attributed sales. TACOS gives you a better view of how advertising is affecting your overall revenue—both paid and organic.

So why is it helpful?

  • It shows whether your business is becoming more efficient over time.
  • It reflects how well your organic ranking is growing alongside ads.
  • It helps measure brand maturity—mature brands often have lower TACOS.

That said, TACOS is a trailing indicator. It tells you what happened—but not necessarily why.

🚨 Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Just TACOS

Let’s say your TACOS is 10%. That sounds great, right?

But what if:

  • Your ad impressions are tanking?
  • Your conversion rate is dropping?
  • Your organic sales are flatlining?
  • Your best-selling product just went out of stock?

TACOS won’t tell you that.

It can hide performance problems if your organic sales are temporarily strong. Or worse, it can discourage growth if you’re cutting back on ads just to keep your TACOS number low.

The reality is: you need a full dashboard, not just one dial.

📊 The Essential Metrics Amazon Sellers Should Track (Alongside TACOS)

If you want a real picture of your business health and advertising performance, here are the core metrics you should be tracking—and why they matter:

1. ACOS (Advertising Cost of Sale)

Formula: (Ad Spend á Ad Revenue) x 100

Why it matters: ACOS gives you insight into how efficient your ad spend is on a campaign level.

Use it to:

  • Compare campaign performance
  • Test new strategies (launch vs. profit-focused)
  • Optimize your bids and budgets

📌 Tip: Track both branded and non-branded ACOS separately. Branded ACOS is usually lower, but it doesn’t always reflect new customer acquisition.

2. CTR (Click-Through Rate)

Formula: (Clicks á Impressions) x 100

Why it matters: CTR tells you if your ad is compelling enough to earn a click.

Low CTR = Your main image, title, or price may not be competitive
High CTR = You’re standing out and winning attention

📌 Tip: If your CTR is low, test your main image, pricing, or title structure. A small bump in CTR can lead to a significant boost in sales.

3. CVR (Conversion Rate)

Formula: (Orders á Clicks) x 100

Why it matters: CVR shows how well your product listing turns visitors into buyers.

Low CVR = Poor product-market fit, listing quality issues, pricing misalignment
High CVR = Strong trust and relevance to shopper intent

📌 Tip: If your CVR is under 10%, it’s time to revisit your A+ content, reviews, or pricing strategy.

4. Organic vs. Paid Sales Ratio

This measures how much of your total revenue comes from organic traffic versus ads.

Why it matters: Over time, your organic sales should grow as your listings improve and reviews accumulate. A heavy reliance on ads (especially after launching) could signal inefficient marketing or underperforming listings.

📌 Goal: As your product matures, your organic-to-paid ratio should improve (more organic).

5. Impression Share

Found in Amazon’s Brand Analytics or via campaign reporting, this tells you how often your ad shows up compared to how often it could show up.

Why it matters: Low impression share may mean you’re underbidding, under-budgeted, or losing to competitors.

📌 Tip: Monitor this to identify where to increase bids or budgets strategically.

6. Sessions and Page Views

This data lives in your business reports and tells you how many unique visits your listing is getting.

Why it matters: If sessions are dropping while TACOS stays stable, you might have an organic visibility problem.

📌 Tip: Correlate ad changes with listing traffic to ensure you’re driving visibility at the top of the funnel.

7. Units Per Order (UPO)

Why it matters: Tracking how many units the average customer buys helps you understand buyer behavior and the effectiveness of bundles or promotions.

📌 Tip: If your UPO increases after bundling products, that’s a strong signal to keep optimizing product variations or sets.

8. Review Velocity and Ratings

Why it matters: Reviews affect CTR and CVR directly. A drop in star rating can dramatically impact sales—even if your ads are dialed in.

📌 Tip: Monitor changes in review ratings and feedback to spot product issues early.

🛠️ How to Use These Metrics Together

Tracking multiple metrics is great—but what matters most is how they work together.

Here are a few examples:

Scenario 1: High ACOS, Low TACOS

This often happens during a product launch.
You’re spending heavily on ads to rank and acquire reviews, but organic sales are starting to kick in.

✅ Keep pushing ads strategically
✅ Monitor CVR to ensure traffic is converting
✅ Expect TACOS to drop as organic grows

Scenario 2: Low ACOS, High TACOS

This could mean your ads are efficient—but your organic sales are suffering.

⚠️ Investigate why organic is lagging
⚠️ Check for suppressed listings, OOS inventory, or keyword ranking loss
⚠️ Consider testing new keywords or adding more Sponsored Brands/Display campaigns

Scenario 3: Low CTR, High CVR

This usually signals that your ad isn’t getting attention, but your listing converts well when it does.

📌 Solution: Test new main images, titles, and pricing
🎯 Goal: Increase traffic to an already well-performing page

🧠 A Smarter Framework: Measure What Moves the Needle

If you want to grow profitably on Amazon, your tracking strategy should answer three key questions:

1. Are we driving the right traffic?

  • Metrics: CTR, Impressions, Search Term Relevance

2. Are we converting that traffic efficiently?

  • Metrics: CVR, ACOS, Sessions, Reviews

3. Is our business getting more efficient over time?

  • Metrics: TACOS, Organic Sales %, Repeat Customer Rate, Overall Profitability

📋 A Quick Checklist: What to Track Weekly

✔️ TACOS
✔️ ACOS
✔️ CTR
✔️ CVR
✔️ Organic vs. Paid Sales Split
✔️ Product Reviews and Rating Changes
✔️ Impression Share (for key campaigns)
✔️ Keyword Ranking (for top targets)

🧠 Pro Tip: Use tools like Helium 10, Sellerboard, or even a custom Google Sheet to track trends over time—not just snapshots.

✍️ Final Thoughts: TACOS Is a Guide, Not a GPS

TACOS is useful. It’s simple. It gives you a bird’s eye view.

But when used in isolation, it’s like flying a plane with only one instrument on the dashboard.

The most successful Amazon brands track multiple key metrics—and know how to interpret the story those numbers tell.

✅ Use TACOS to monitor long-term efficiency
✅ Use ACOS, CTR, and CVR to optimize campaign-level performance
✅ Use organic trends and customer behavior data to fuel your next phase of growth

Data-driven sellers win. Not because they track everything—but because they track the right things, consistently.

Want help building a performance dashboard and scaling your Amazon ads the smart way?
At Marketplace Valet, we help sellers use data to drive better decisions, higher profitability, and faster growth—without the guesswork.

📩 Let’s talk about what metrics you should really be tracking.

#AmazonFBA #MarketplaceValet #TACOS #PPCStrategy #FBA2025 #AmazonSellers #AdvertisingMetrics #EcommerceGrowth #SmartSelling #SellOnAmazon

ACOS vs. TACOS: What Every Amazon Seller Should Know

As an Amazon seller, you’ve likely heard of ACOS and TACOS—two of the most talked-about advertising metrics in the FBA world. But while both are essential to understanding your ad performance, they serve very different purposes.

Unfortunately, too many sellers obsess over ACOS and ignore TACOS—missing out on the bigger picture of their business’s health and scalability.

In this blog post, we’ll break down:

✅ What ACOS and TACOS really mean
✅ Why relying only on ACOS is risky
✅ How TACOS gives a better view of growth and profitability
✅ What good ACOS/TACOS benchmarks look like
✅ How to use both metrics together to build a stronger Amazon business

Let’s demystify these two acronyms and put them to work for your business.

🧠 First, Let’s Define ACOS and TACOS

What is ACOS?

ACOS (Advertising Cost of Sale) is the metric Amazon gives you to evaluate the efficiency of your ad campaigns.

Formula:

ACOS = (Ad Spend á Ad Revenue) x 100

Example:
You spent $100 in ads and generated $400 in revenue from those ads.
Your ACOS is:
($100 á $400) x 100 = 25%

What it tells you:
How much you’re spending on ads for every dollar of ad-attributed sales.

High ACOS = Less efficient spend
Low ACOS = More efficient spend

What is TACOS?

TACOS (Total Advertising Cost of Sale) measures your advertising spend against your total revenue, not just ad-attributed revenue.

Formula:

TACOS = (Ad Spend á Total Revenue) x 100

Example:
You spent $100 on ads and generated $400 in ad-attributed sales, but $1,000 in total sales (including organic).
Your TACOS is:
($100 á $1,000) x 100 = 10%

What it tells you:
How much you’re spending on ads in relation to your entire business performance—not just ads.

🎯 Why You Need to Understand the Difference

At first glance, both metrics look similar.

But here’s the key distinction:

  • ACOS tells you how efficient your ads are.
  • TACOS tells you how healthy your overall sales ecosystem is.

Obsessing over ACOS is like evaluating your entire restaurant based only on appetizer orders.

You’re ignoring the entrees, drinks, and desserts that might be contributing the most to your revenue.

🚨 Why Relying Solely on ACOS Can Be Dangerous

Many new or even experienced sellers make the mistake of using ACOS as their only metric for advertising performance.

Here’s why that’s risky:

1. It Ignores Organic Growth

If your ads are driving ranking improvements and boosting organic sales, your ACOS may appear high—but your TACOS stays low, and your business is winning.

This is especially true during product launches or keyword ranking campaigns.

2. It Encourages Overly Conservative Bidding

If you’re trying to keep ACOS below a certain threshold (say 20%), you might:

  • Miss opportunities to scale
  • Cut off keywords that aren’t profitable yet
  • Over-optimize and strangle growth

3. It Hides the True Impact of Brand Building

Your ads don’t just drive clicks—they increase brand awareness, boost repeat purchases, and influence shoppers later down the funnel.

ACOS doesn’t account for those “halo effects.”
TACOS does.

📈 Why TACOS Gives You the Bigger Picture

TACOS helps you measure:

  • The impact of advertising on your total sales
  • Whether your organic sales are growing alongside paid efforts
  • How scalable your advertising strategy really is

If your ACOS is stable or increasing slightly, but your TACOS is decreasing—that’s a good sign.

It means you’re generating more organic sales as a result of your ad campaigns, and your business is becoming more efficient over time.

🛠️ When to Use ACOS vs. TACOS

Here’s how to think about both metrics:

MetricUse ForWhat It MeasuresWhen It’s Useful
ACOSCampaign-level decisionsAd efficiencyLaunching new campaigns, optimizing bids
TACOSBusiness-wide viewAdvertising efficiency across total salesMeasuring growth, profitability, and scalability

You shouldn’t pick one over the other.
You need both.

Use ACOS to fine-tune your ad campaigns.
Use TACOS to make smarter business decisions.

📊 What’s a Good ACOS and TACOS?

There’s no universal benchmark—it depends on your product, margin, and strategy.
But here are general guidelines:

✅ ACOS Benchmarks

  • 10-20% – Excellent for high-margin products
  • 20-30% – Average and sustainable for most products
  • 30-50% – Often used for aggressive launches or ranking pushes
  • 50%+ – Risky unless you’re gaining organic momentum or customer lifetime value (LTV) makes up for it

✅ TACOS Benchmarks

  • <10% – Ideal if you have strong organic presence
  • 10-15% – Normal for growing brands
  • 15-20%+ – Okay for new brands or during aggressive scaling phases
  • 20%+ and rising – Potential red flag—organic growth may be stalling

🧠 Tip: The goal should be to decrease TACOS over time, even if ACOS stays the same or increases slightly.

🔍 Real-World Example: Why TACOS > ACOS

Let’s say you’re launching a new supplement:

Month 1:

  • Ad Spend: $2,000
  • Ad Sales: $4,000
  • Total Sales: $4,500
  • ACOS: 50%
  • TACOS: 44%

That looks rough, right?

But let’s look at Month 3:

Month 3:

  • Ad Spend: $2,000
  • Ad Sales: $4,500
  • Total Sales: $9,000
  • ACOS: 44%
  • TACOS: 22%

Your ACOS didn’t improve much.
But your TACOS got cut in half. Why?

Because your organic sales doubled.

That’s a win.

🚀 How to Use ACOS and TACOS to Scale Smart

Here’s a strategy framework to grow profitably using both metrics:

1. Launch Phase: Prioritize Growth Over Profit

  • Expect higher ACOS (30-50%+)
  • Monitor TACOS to make sure total revenue is growing
  • Focus on driving ranking and gaining reviews

2. Growth Phase: Track TACOS Weekly

  • Aim for consistent or decreasing TACOS
  • Stabilize ACOS through bid adjustments
  • Expand campaigns for branded and long-tail keywords

3. Scale Phase: Optimize for Profitability

  • Maintain low TACOS
  • Trim underperforming ad groups
  • Push Sponsored Brands, Display, and video for repeat traffic and defense

🧩 Bonus: Advanced Tips for Managing Both Metrics

✅ Automate Your Reporting

Use tools like:

  • Helium 10
  • Sellerboard
  • Perpetua
  • Amazon’s Brand Analytics
  • Marketplace Valet dashboards

To track both ACOS and TACOS trends over time.

✅ Separate Branded vs. Non-Branded Campaigns

Branded terms often have very low ACOS—but don’t reflect your real advertising efficiency.

Track non-branded ACOS and TACOS separately for a clearer picture of top-of-funnel performance.

✅ Track TACOS by Product

Some products are naturally more ad-reliant.
Track TACOS at the SKU level to spot underperformers, rising stars, or declining ASINs.

✍️ Final Thoughts: ACOS and TACOS—Use Both, Grow Smarter

ACOS is like checking the miles per gallon on your car.
TACOS is like measuring your total cost per mile traveled—including gas, maintenance, and tolls.

Both matter.
But only one tells you how far you’re really getting with your investment.

So don’t fall into the trap of chasing “low ACOS” at all costs.
Instead, build a strategy that prioritizes profitable growth, supported by rising organic sales and decreasing TACOS.

That’s how winning Amazon brands scale sustainably—and win long term.

Want help building a smarter advertising strategy that balances ACOS, TACOS, and total growth?
At Marketplace Valet, we help brands scale profitably on Amazon through intelligent advertising, optimized listings, and full-service marketplace management.

📩 Let’s talk about growing your brand the right way.

#AmazonFBA #ACOSvsTACOS #AmazonPPC #MarketplaceValet #AmazonSellers #FBA2025 #EcommerceGrowth #AdvertisingStrategy #ProfitabilityMetrics #SmartScaling #SellOnAmazon

How to Improve Your Amazon Main Image for More Clicks

If you’re selling on Amazon, your main image is the single most important asset on your product listing.

It’s the first thing shoppers see.
It’s what makes them click—or scroll past.
It determines whether you even get the chance to sell your product.

Yet far too many sellers treat their main image as an afterthought.

In this blog, we’re going to fix that.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why your Amazon main image is your most powerful sales driver
✅ What the top-performing images have in common
✅ Simple, proven techniques to boost click-through rate (CTR)
✅ Tools, tips, and real examples to guide your upgrade process

Let’s dive in and make your listing pop.

🧠 Why Your Main Image Matters So Much

Amazon is a visual-first marketplace.

When a shopper searches for a product, they’re instantly flooded with options. The one thing that determines whether they click on your listing?

👉 Your main image.

Studies show that on Amazon:

  • 70% of shoppers never scroll past the first page of search results
  • Shoppers decide in under 2 seconds whether a product interests them
  • Image quality directly impacts CTR, which affects your organic ranking and ad performance

In short:
Better images = more clicks = more sales.

🚫 Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Clicks

Before we talk about what to do, let’s highlight what NOT to do. These mistakes are costing you valuable traffic:

  • Low resolution images that look blurry or pixelated
  • Poor lighting or shadows that obscure details
  • Overly zoomed-out products that don’t fill the frame
  • Backgrounds that aren’t 100% white (violates Amazon policy)
  • Lifestyle images as main image (must be product-only)
  • Busy or cluttered presentation
  • Bad angles that hide product features

Amazon’s algorithm (and your customers) are both visual judges. If your main image doesn’t instantly communicate quality and relevance, they’ll move on.

✅ What Makes a High-Performing Amazon Main Image?

The best main images have a few key traits in common:

1. High Resolution (At Least 1600 px on Longest Side)

This allows for zoom functionality—critical for mobile shoppers and desktop users alike.

2. Pure White Background (#FFFFFF)

Amazon requires this. It also ensures your product stands out without distractions.

3. Product Fills at Least 85% of the Frame

Don’t waste space. A larger product image catches the eye better and gives more detail at a glance.

4. Sharp Focus and Proper Lighting

Make sure textures, features, and finishes are clear. Lighting should be even and flattering.

5. Angle That Highlights the Most Important Feature

The hero angle should showcase the defining element of your product.

🔥 How to Upgrade Your Main Image for More Clicks

Let’s get tactical. Here’s how to create or improve a main image that boosts your CTR immediately:

1. Use a Professional Photographer (If Possible)

Nothing beats clean, sharp, high-quality product photography.

Even one good shoot can pay for itself in a few weeks with improved conversions and higher sales.

📸 Look for photographers who specialize in Amazon product photography and understand compliance requirements.

2. Use 3D Rendering When Appropriate

For hard goods, consumer electronics, and even supplements, 3D renders can often outperform traditional photography because:

  • You control every detail (no dust, shadows, or imperfections)
  • You can highlight subtle features more clearly
  • You get consistent angles across variants

⚠️ Important: Your render must look real—not fake or cartoonish. Amazon may suspend listings that appear deceptive.

3. Maximize the Frame

Zoom in as close as possible without cropping out the edges of your product.

More visual space = more detail = more confidence.

🧠 Tip: Center your product, but also test slight off-center placements if they highlight the key feature better.

4. Add Strategic Shadows and Reflections

While your background must be 100% white, Amazon allows soft shadows or subtle reflections under the product.

This can make your product look more dynamic and grounded, rather than floating in space.

✔️ Allowed: Ground shadows and natural lighting effects
❌ Not allowed: Environmental backgrounds, logos, or props in the main image

5. Show Multiple Pieces or Key Accessories (If Included)

If your product is a set, make sure the shopper can see what they’re getting.

Examples:

  • A knife set with all knives clearly displayed
  • A water bottle with included straws and cleaning brush
  • A wireless charging pad shown with the adapter

Be clear and transparent. That builds trust and improves CTR.

6. Split-Test Variations Using Manage Your Experiments (MYE)

If you’re Brand Registered, you can run A/B tests through Manage Your Experiments in Seller Central.

Test different:

  • Angles
  • Background lighting
  • Product arrangements
  • Zoom levels
  • Renders vs. photos

Let Amazon’s data show you which image drives the most clicks and conversions.

7. Add a Zoom-Friendly Texture or Detail

Shoppers love zooming in to examine materials, patterns, finishes, etc.

Make sure:

  • Your image supports zoom
  • The product texture is sharp and visible
  • Labels, instructions, or ingredient panels are legible (when applicable)

More detail = more buyer confidence.

🧪 Bonus: Image Tips by Category

Different products call for different main image strategies. Here are a few examples:

🏋️ Fitness Products

  • Show the product fully assembled
  • If there are multiple resistance bands or weights, fan them out neatly
  • Include carrying case if it’s part of the value

🍽️ Kitchen Products

  • Angle that shows product in use (without hands or food for the main image)
  • Reflect surfaces to highlight shine (e.g., stainless steel)
  • Include all attachments clearly

👚 Clothing & Apparel

  • Use ghost mannequins or flat lays (Amazon disallows models in main images)
  • Steam or retouch for crisp, clean fabric presentation
  • Show both front and back if space allows

🧴 Supplements or Cosmetics

  • Use high-res 3D render for crisp label visibility
  • Show front-facing bottle clearly
  • If it’s a 2- or 3-pack, arrange bottles in triangle format for balance

📈 How to Measure the Impact of Your Image Upgrade

After updating your main image, track these metrics over 2–4 weeks:

  • CTR (Click-Through Rate) in your PPC campaigns
  • Organic traffic increase in Search Query Performance
  • Conversion rate improvements
  • Sales velocity and BSR (Best Sellers Rank)

Small changes to your image can create massive changes in your data.

🧠 Pro Tip: Combine image upgrades with Sponsored Brands and Top of Search placements for maximum exposure.

💡 Final Thoughts: Your Image Is Your Hook

Your Amazon listing doesn’t start with the title.
It starts with the image.

It’s your first impression, your ad, your handshake, and your salesperson—all wrapped into one 1,600-pixel square.

So if you’re trying to boost clicks, don’t guess.
Test, upgrade, and optimize your main image like a pro.

More clicks = more conversions = more revenue.

Make your product impossible to ignore.

Need help upgrading your main image or running split-tests to find the highest-performing variation?
At Marketplace Valet, we specialize in optimizing every visual and strategic element of your Amazon presence—from imagery and listings to advertising and fulfillment.

📩 Let’s talk about leveling up your product’s first impression.

#AmazonFBA #MainImageOptimization #MarketplaceValet #AmazonSellers #FBA2025 #CTRBoost #ListingOptimization #AmazonTips #ProductPhotography #EcommerceGrowth #VisualMarketing

How to Turn Amazon Shoppers Into Repeat Customers

Selling on Amazon is a powerful way to reach millions of potential customers—but it often comes with a major challenge:

👉 You don’t control the customer relationship.

Amazon owns the data, the checkout process, the communications, and the customer experience. This makes it much harder to build loyalty or turn one-time buyers into repeat customers.

And yet—the most successful Amazon sellers do just that.

While many brands are locked into the “acquire-and-forget” cycle, smart sellers are building systems to earn repeat business, drive customer lifetime value (CLV), and grow faster with less advertising spend.

In this post, we’ll break down:

✅ Why repeat customers matter more than ever
✅ The limitations (and opportunities) of Amazon’s platform
✅ Actionable strategies to turn one-time buyers into loyal fans
✅ TOS-compliant ways to stay connected and add value
✅ How to measure success and scale what works

Let’s dive in.

🧠 Why Repeat Customers Matter on Amazon

You already know it’s expensive to acquire a customer—especially on Amazon where PPC costs are rising year over year.

But here’s what many sellers overlook:

The cost of not retaining those customers is even higher.

Here’s why turning Amazon buyers into repeat customers is so valuable:

  • Higher lifetime value (LTV) — You don’t pay to acquire the second, third, or fourth purchase
  • Lower ACoS — Repeats often come through organic traffic or brand searches
  • Stronger brand rankings — Repeat purchases drive better conversion history and organic placement
  • More reviews and positive feedback — Loyal customers are more likely to share their experiences
  • Greater predictability — Loyal buyers help you stabilize revenue over time

In short: Repeat customers = compounding growth.

🚧 The Challenges of Building Loyalty on Amazon

Amazon isn’t like your own Shopify site.

When you sell on Amazon, you give up a lot of direct control over:

  • Customer data (emails, phone numbers, etc.)
  • The unboxing experience
  • Post-purchase follow-up
  • Promotions and customer-specific offers

And Amazon has strict policies to prevent manipulation or customer poaching.

So does that mean building loyalty is impossible?

Not at all.

It just means you have to work within Amazon’s rules—and get creative.

✅ Strategies to Turn Amazon Shoppers Into Repeat Buyers

Here’s how smart sellers build loyalty on Amazon without breaking the rules:

1. Deliver an Amazing First-Time Experience

Before you worry about second purchases, make sure the first experience is flawless.

That means:

  • High-quality product that matches (or exceeds) expectations
  • Accurate, informative listing copy
  • Fast and damage-free shipping (use FBA or reliable FBM fulfillment)
  • Professional, attractive packaging
  • Easy-to-understand instructions or setup guides

🧠 Pro Tip:
Include a “thank you” card inside your packaging. Keep it compliant by NOT requesting a review or offering a reward—but you can thank them for their purchase and invite them to reach out with questions or concerns.

2. Use Product Inserts to Build Brand Awareness (TOS-Compliant)

Product inserts are one of your few direct-to-customer touchpoints. Use them wisely.

What you can include:

✅ A thank-you note
✅ A short brand story or mission statement
✅ Instructions, tips, or usage guides
✅ Warranty registration (on your own site, if framed as optional)
✅ Support contact info

What you should NOT include:

🚫 Requests for positive reviews
🚫 Incentives, discounts, or giveaways tied to reviews
🚫 Direct requests to leave Amazon or communicate off-platform (without a compliant reason)

Done right, inserts can plant the seed for loyalty—even without collecting customer data.

3. Enroll in Amazon’s Subscribe & Save (If Applicable)

If you sell a replenishable product (vitamins, coffee, pet supplies, beauty items, etc.), Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program is a no-brainer.

Benefits:

  • Locks in repeat purchases automatically
  • Amazon handles the marketing and reminders
  • Increases LTV without extra work

✅ Pro Tip: Offer a small discount (5–15%) to incentivize subscriptions—it’s often cheaper than reacquiring the customer through ads.

4. Build a Brand Customers Recognize and Search For

Even though Amazon owns the customer data, you can still build brand recognition.

Tactics that help:

  • Use your brand name consistently in your product titles and images
  • Create custom A+ Content with storytelling and visuals
  • Set up a branded Amazon Storefront
  • Run Sponsored Brand ads to reinforce your identity
  • Launch multiple related products under the same brand umbrella

Why it works:

  • Shoppers who remember your brand are more likely to search for it again
  • Branded search = lower CPCs and higher conversion rates
  • You differentiate from the sea of “white label” sellers

Brand loyalty starts with brand visibility.

5. Launch Product Line Extensions and Cross-Sells

Want repeat customers?
Give them something else to buy.

Once a customer trusts your first product, they’re more likely to buy:

  • Complementary items (accessories, refills, add-ons)
  • Variants (new colors, flavors, sizes)
  • Upgrades or premium versions
  • Bundled kits or value packs

🧠 Smart sellers use this strategy to turn one-time sales into multi-product households.

6. Use Sponsored Display and DSP Retargeting

If you’re Brand Registered, you have access to Sponsored Display retargeting.

These ads allow you to:

  • Re-engage customers who viewed your product
  • Remind past purchasers about refills or related items
  • Drive traffic to your Storefront or branded landing page

If you’re scaling aggressively, Amazon DSP (Demand-Side Platform) offers even deeper retargeting and audience segmentation.

You can target:

  • Shoppers who purchased in a specific timeframe
  • Customers in specific demographics
  • Visitors to your Amazon Store

🔥 Retargeting = more conversions at a lower cost than cold traffic.

7. Offer Product Bundles or Kits

Want customers to choose you again over a competitor?

Make your offering more convenient, valuable, or complete than others.

Bundling benefits:

  • Drives higher AOV (average order value)
  • Gives you an edge over generic alternatives
  • Encourages repeat purchases through convenience

Examples:

  • A kitchen tool bundled with a cleaning brush
  • A vitamin 3-pack with a free pill organizer
  • A dog toy pack with a treat sampler

📈 Smart bundles = better value = higher customer retention.

8. Collect External Traffic Through Brand-Driven Strategies

While Amazon limits how you can communicate post-purchase, you can still bring buyers into your own ecosystem using off-Amazon strategies like:

  • Running traffic to your Amazon Storefront from email, social, or influencers
  • Using QR codes on packaging to drive to brand resources or landing pages
  • Offering a loyalty program or VIP club through warranty registration (compliant and optional)

Once they’re off Amazon and opted into your world, you can nurture them through:

  • Email marketing
  • Exclusive offers
  • Product launch updates
  • Customer service and support

Caution: Always stay within Amazon’s terms of service—especially when referencing reviews or asking for feedback.

📊 How to Measure Repeat Customer Performance on Amazon

Amazon doesn’t give you full LTV analytics like Shopify does—but you can still get insights.

Here’s how:

  1. Use the “Repeat Purchase Behavior” Report
    (Available in Brand Analytics for Brand Registered sellers)
    This shows how often customers buy again and which products drive repeat behavior.
  2. Track Subscribe & Save retention
    Monitor how many customers stay subscribed after 30, 60, and 90 days.
  3. Monitor branded searches in Search Query Performance reports
    Increasing branded search means your customers are coming back looking for you.
  4. Use tools like Helium 10 or Sellerboard
    These platforms offer some LTV and customer retention tracking features.

✍️ Final Thoughts: Loyalty Isn’t Easy—But It’s Worth It

Most Amazon sellers focus only on new customer acquisition.
The best sellers?
They also focus on keeping those customers for life.

Building loyalty and repeat business takes time, strategy, and consistency—but it leads to:

✅ Higher profitability
✅ Lower reliance on advertising
✅ Stronger brand presence
✅ Greater long-term stability

Even within Amazon’s limitations, there are plenty of creative, compliant ways to turn one-time buyers into loyal, repeat customers.

Want help building an Amazon strategy that grows sales AND customer loyalty?
At Marketplace Valet, we help brands create scalable, repeatable systems for growth inside the world’s largest marketplace.

📩 Let’s talk about building your repeat customer flywheel.

#AmazonFBA #MarketplaceValet #RepeatCustomers #FBA2025 #AmazonSellers #CustomerLoyalty #EcommerceGrowth #BrandBuilding #RetentionStrategy #SellOnAmazon

PPC Tips You Can Do in 20 Minutes to Increase Sales

Running Amazon PPC campaigns can feel overwhelming.

Between keywords, bids, budgets, reports, and new ad types constantly being rolled out, it’s easy to believe that optimizing your campaigns requires hours of deep dives every week.

But here’s the good news:
👉 You don’t need hours to start improving your PPC results.

Even 20 minutes of smart adjustments can significantly boost your click-through rates, lower your ACoS, and drive more profitable sales.

In this post, I’ll share fast, actionable PPC tips you can implement in 20 minutes or less to increase your Amazon sales today.

Ready to work smarter, not harder? Let’s go.

🧠 Why Quick Tweaks Matter in Amazon PPC

Amazon’s advertising ecosystem moves fast.

  • Consumer search behaviors shift daily.
  • CPCs (cost-per-click) change with competition and seasonality.
  • New keywords and trends emerge constantly.

If you’re not adjusting regularly—even in small ways—you’re leaving easy wins on the table.

These 20-minute PPC actions help you:

✅ Fine-tune your spend
✅ Capitalize on hot keywords
✅ Improve conversion rates
✅ Stretch your ad budget further

It’s about momentum through micro-optimizations.

🚀 20-Minute PPC Tips to Boost Amazon Sales

1. Identify and Boost Your Top-Converting Keywords

🕒 Time: 5 minutes

✅ Action Steps:

  • Go into Campaign Manager > Search Term Reports.
  • Filter by 7-day or 14-day window.
  • Identify the search terms with highest conversion rates and profitable ACoS.
  • Increase bids by 10–20% on these winning keywords.

Why it works:
When a keyword is converting profitably, bidding up slightly can drive more impressions—and more sales—without spiking your ACoS.

📈 Pro Tip: Focus on exact match keywords for the biggest immediate impact.

2. Cut Spend on Non-Converting Keywords

🕒 Time: 5 minutes

✅ Action Steps:

  • Still in Search Term Reports, find keywords that:
    • Have 10+ clicks
    • But zero sales
  • Add these keywords as Negative Exact Matches to your campaigns.

Why it works:
Every click without a sale burns ad spend. By cutting out non-converters quickly, you instantly make your campaigns more efficient.

📈 Pro Tip: Do this weekly—it compounds your savings fast.

3. Adjust Bids Based on Placement Performance

🕒 Time: 5 minutes

✅ Action Steps:

  • Go to Campaign Manager > Placements tab.
  • Look at Top of Search (first page) and Product Pages metrics.
  • If Top of Search has a strong conversion rate (compared to overall average),
    ➔ Increase your Top of Search placement modifier by 20–50%.

Why it works:
Top of Search placements get higher buyer intent traffic.
If you’re already converting well there, a small boost can generate outsized results.

📈 Pro Tip: Always raise placement bids carefully—you still want to monitor ACoS.

4. Pause or Lower Bids on Low-Performing Campaigns

🕒 Time: 3 minutes

✅ Action Steps:

  • In Campaign Manager, sort campaigns by highest ACoS.
  • Identify any campaigns with:
    • ACoS higher than your target profit margin (ex: 50%+ if your margin is 30%).
  • Lower bids by 10–15% or pause non-essential campaigns.

Why it works:
Saving spend from underperforming campaigns lets you reallocate budget to the winners.

📈 Pro Tip: Don’t pause a whole campaign unless it’s severely underperforming—start with lowering bids first.

5. Optimize Your Campaign Budgets

🕒 Time: 2 minutes

✅ Action Steps:

  • Review your daily budgets.
  • Boost budgets on high-performing, profitable campaigns that are running out of budget early in the day.

Why it works:
If Amazon is limiting a profitable campaign due to budget caps, you’re leaving money (and sales) on the table.

📈 Pro Tip: Look at the Impression Share Lost Due to Budget metric under Campaign Settings to identify opportunities.

🛠️ Bonus 20-Minute Tactics (When You Have Extra Time)

6. Create a Sponsored Brand Campaign (If You Haven’t Yet)

🕒 Time: 10–15 minutes

✅ Action Steps:

  • Choose your top 2–3 products.
  • Build a simple Sponsored Brand headline ad targeting relevant keywords.
  • Focus on high-converting keywords from your Sponsored Products campaigns.

Why it works:
Sponsored Brands are great for brand awareness, higher CTRs, and better Top of Search coverage.

7. Set Up a Retargeting Campaign (Sponsored Display)

🕒 Time: 10 minutes

✅ Action Steps:

  • Launch a Sponsored Display campaign.
  • Target audiences who viewed your product but didn’t purchase.
  • Bid conservatively to start.

Why it works:
Most shoppers don’t buy on the first visit. Retargeting brings them back—and converts hesitant browsers into buyers.

8. Tweak Your Ad Creatives

🕒 Time: 5 minutes

✅ Action Steps:

  • If you’re running Sponsored Brands or Sponsored Display ads with creative,
  • Refresh the headline or image to make it more benefit-focused (“Stay Hydrated on the Go” vs. “32oz Water Bottle”).

Why it works:
Fresh creative often lifts CTRs and conversions with very little extra effort.

📋 Quick Checklist: 20-Minute PPC Optimization Routine

✔️ Identify and boost top-converting keywords
✔️ Add negatives for non-converting search terms
✔️ Adjust placement bids where profitable
✔️ Lower bids or pause bad campaigns
✔️ Reallocate budget to best performers
✔️ (Optional) Set up a Sponsored Brand or retargeting campaign
✔️ (Optional) Refresh ad creative for quick CTR wins

📈 Real-World Results: How Quick Wins Compound Over Time

One Marketplace Valet client applied just a few of these 20-minute tweaks weekly:

  • Lowered wasted ad spend by 18% over 30 days
  • Improved ACoS by 12%
  • Increased overall PPC-driven revenue by 25%
  • Hit record-low TACoS (Total Advertising Cost of Sale)

The takeaway:
You don’t need big overhauls—you need small, smart, consistent optimizations.

🧠 Why 20-Minute PPC Wins Work

It’s about momentum.

Most sellers either:

  • Spend no time on PPC and wonder why results stagnate, or
  • Feel like they need hours they don’t have, so they delay action.

By committing to just 20 minutes per week, you stay:

✅ In tune with performance trends
✅ Ahead of wasteful spend
✅ On top of emerging keyword opportunities
✅ Focused on scaling profits

Tiny actions = Big cumulative wins.

✍️ Final Thoughts: Small Tweaks, Big Impact

PPC doesn’t have to consume your whole week.

✅ In just 20 minutes, you can fine-tune your bids, keywords, placements, and budgets—and start seeing better results right away.

The trick is to be consistent.

  • Set a calendar reminder.
  • Block off 20 minutes every week.
  • Follow the simple checklist above.
  • Celebrate the small wins—they add up fast.

Work smarter, scale faster, and watch your Amazon sales grow.

Need help building smarter Amazon PPC strategies that deliver consistent growth?
At Marketplace Valet, we help brands optimize their advertising with custom strategies designed to maximize ROI without wasting time.

📩 Let’s talk about scaling your Amazon ads profitably!

#AmazonFBA #AmazonPPC #MarketplaceValet #QuickWins #PPCOptimization #AmazonSellers #AdvertisingStrategy #EcommerceGrowth #BoostSales #FBA2025

How to Add Cost of Goods for Amazon Reimbursement

If you sell through Amazon FBA, you know the feeling:
One day you’re auditing your inventory—and you notice some of your products have mysteriously vanished, been damaged, or otherwise gone missing inside Amazon’s massive warehouse network.

Good news:
👉 Amazon will usually reimburse you for lost or damaged inventory.

Bad news:
👉 You may not get the full value unless you properly document your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS).

In this blog post, I’ll break down:
✅ Why adding your COGS matters for Amazon reimbursements
✅ What happens if you don’t input your COGS
✅ Step-by-step instructions for adding Cost of Goods inside Seller Central
✅ Tips to maximize your reimbursement claims and protect your profitability

Let’s make sure you’re getting every dollar you deserve!

🧠 Why Cost of Goods (COGS) Matters for Reimbursements

When Amazon loses or damages your inventory under FBA, they typically reimburse sellers based on:

  • The average selling price of the product over a recent time period or
  • The Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) you have documented in your account

If you don’t have COGS entered, Amazon uses its own formula based on marketplace averages—which usually works against you.

You could end up with a reimbursement that’s far less than:

  • What you paid to manufacture or purchase the item
  • What you could have earned selling it
  • What it actually costs you to restock

By entering your real COGS information, you help Amazon reimburse you more fairly and more quickly.

🚨 What Happens If You Don’t Enter Your COGS?

If you don’t upload your Cost of Goods data:

  • You may receive a lower reimbursement amount than your product is worth.
  • Amazon will rely on marketplace averages, which can fluctuate wildly (and often don’t favor you).
  • It can cause delays in reimbursement processing.
  • You lose leverage if you need to appeal or challenge the reimbursement decision.

Bottom line:
No COGS = less money back in your pocket.

📈 Benefits of Properly Adding Your COGS

✅ Higher reimbursement amounts
✅ Faster resolution of lost/damaged claims
✅ Better internal inventory and financial tracking
✅ Stronger documentation in case of audits
✅ Easier tax reporting (COGS ties into gross profit calculations)

It’s a simple step that pays off big when something goes wrong.

🛠️ How to Add Cost of Goods for Amazon Reimbursements (Step-by-Step)

Ready to set it up correctly? Here’s exactly how to do it inside Seller Central:

Step 1: Prepare Your COGS Information

Before you jump into Amazon’s system, gather this info for each SKU:

  • SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
  • ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number)
  • Cost of Goods (your true landed cost) — this includes:
    • Manufacturing costs
    • Packaging
    • Shipping (if you include it)
    • Duties and taxes (if applicable)

Important:
Use the landed cost per unit — not just the factory price.

Step 2: Navigate to the “Manage Inventory” Section

  • Log into Seller Central.
  • Go to Inventory > Manage Inventory.

Here you’ll see a list of all your active SKUs.

Step 3: Download the Inventory Report Template

Rather than updating COGS manually one-by-one (which is tedious), use the bulk upload method:

  • Click Inventory > Add Products via Upload.
  • Select Download Inventory File.
  • Choose the correct template for your product category. (Usually “Inventory Loader” or “Category-Specific Templates.”)
  • Download the Excel (.xlsx) template.

Step 4: Fill In the COGS Fields in the Template

Inside the template:

  • Find the columns labeled cost-price or item-cost (depends on the template version).
  • Input your Cost of Goods for each SKU.

Important notes:

  • Enter the cost as a number only (no dollar signs).
  • Keep it consistent (e.g., don’t mix landed cost and factory-only cost).
  • Double-check that the SKU and ASIN match your catalog exactly.

Step 5: Save and Upload the Updated File

After filling out your costs:

  • Save the file in the required format (usually .txt or .xlsx).
  • Return to Seller Central > Inventory > Add Products via Upload.
  • Upload your completed file.

Amazon will process the file and update your SKUs accordingly.

Note:
It can take a few hours for updates to reflect fully.

Step 6: Confirm Your COGS Are Active

After uploading:

  • Go back to Manage Inventory.
  • Check the SKUs and ensure the Cost field shows your entered values.

Congratulations—you’ve now protected yourself for future reimbursements!

🧹 Pro Tips for Managing Cost of Goods on Amazon

✅ Update Regularly:
If your cost of goods changes significantly (due to supplier changes, freight rates, tariffs, etc.), update your COGS in Seller Central.

✅ Keep Records:
Maintain backup documentation (invoices, purchase orders) in case Amazon requests proof during a claim investigation.

✅ Be Consistent:
Always use landed cost as your standard—don’t switch back and forth.

✅ Audit Periodically:
Set a calendar reminder to review your COGS every quarter or after major inventory purchases.

✅ Don’t Overinflate:
Trying to claim inflated COGS could get your reimbursement claim denied—or worse, flag your account for review.

📋 What Amazon Considers During Reimbursement Calculations

When reimbursing for lost or damaged FBA inventory, Amazon considers:

  • Your sales history for the ASIN
  • The average selling price
  • Recent sales trends
  • Any uploaded Cost of Goods data
  • The product’s current marketplace value

Best-case scenario:
When you have strong, accurate COGS input, Amazon can quickly verify reimbursement amounts based on your provided cost—and you avoid lengthy appeal processes.

🛡️ What If Amazon Still Offers a Low Reimbursement?

Sometimes—even with proper COGS—Amazon may issue a lower reimbursement than you expect.

✅ Open a Case:
Go to Help > Get Support and open a case with FBA support.

✅ Provide Evidence:
Upload supplier invoices, payment receipts, or shipping documentation proving your COGS.

✅ Be Persistent but Professional:
Most claim denials happen because sellers either don’t provide strong documentation—or give up too soon.

Persistence, politeness, and proper paperwork usually win.

🧠 Quick FAQ About Adding COGS for Reimbursements

Q: Does Amazon always reimburse based on my COGS?
A: No. They consider multiple factors, but uploading your COGS increases the chances of a fair payout.

Q: How often should I update my COGS?
A: At least quarterly—or any time your costs change by more than ~10%.

Q: Is adding COGS required?
A: No, but if you skip it, you’ll likely receive lower reimbursements when Amazon loses or damages your inventory.

✍️ Final Thoughts: Protect Your Profits, Act Like a Pro

If you’re serious about growing an Amazon business sustainably, every dollar matters.

Don’t let Amazon (or anyone else) undervalue your hard-earned inventory.

Adding your Cost of Goods:

✅ Ensures better reimbursement payouts
✅ Strengthens your case in disputes
✅ Supports smarter financial management
✅ Positions you like a true professional brand

It’s a simple, one-time setup that pays off whenever life (or logistics) gets messy.

Protect yourself—and your profits—today.

Need help managing your Amazon FBA reimbursements, inventory, or profitability strategies?
At Marketplace Valet, we help sellers grow smarter with systems designed for long-term success.

📩 Let’s talk about scaling your Amazon business profitably!

#AmazonFBA #MarketplaceValet #FBA2025 #AmazonSellers #COGS #SellerCentralTips #AmazonReimbursement #InventoryManagement #ProfitabilityHacks #EcommerceGrowth

LAUNCHING on Amazon FBA? 🚀 AVOID These Common Review Traps!

Launching a product on Amazon FBA is exciting—and terrifying.

You’ve spent months perfecting your product, setting up your listings, preparing your ads.
Now, you’re ready to go live.

But there’s a harsh reality waiting for every new Amazon seller:
👉 Without reviews, your product launch will struggle to gain traction.

Early reviews are critical for:
✅ Building trust with shoppers
✅ Improving conversion rates
✅ Gaining organic ranking
✅ Unlocking better ad performance

Here’s the problem:
Chasing reviews the wrong way can cost you everything—your listing, your account, and your future on Amazon.

In this post, we’ll break down:
✅ Why reviews are so critical (and why Amazon polices them so aggressively)
✅ The most common review traps new sellers fall into
✅ How to build reviews safely, ethically, and effectively

Let’s launch smart—and stay safe.

🧠 Why Reviews Are a Launch Lifeline on Amazon

Imagine you’re a shopper.

You find two products:

  • Product A has 0 reviews
  • Product B has 87 reviews and a 4.6-star rating

Which one are you buying?

Exactly.

On Amazon, social proof isn’t optional.
Shoppers trust products with reviews. They doubt products without them.

Early reviews help you:

  • Stand out from similar products
  • Increase click-through rates (CTR) and conversions
  • Decrease your ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale)
  • Rank organically faster (because Amazon’s A9 algorithm loves high-converting listings)

🚨 Why Amazon Cracks Down So Hard on Review Manipulation

In the early days of Amazon selling (pre-2016), it was the Wild West.

  • Free products in exchange for 5-star reviews? ✅
  • Paid fake reviews from overseas? ✅
  • Mass review swaps among sellers? ✅

But it didn’t take long for Amazon to realize:
Fake reviews destroy shopper trust.

Today, Amazon’s review policies are strict—and enforcement is aggressive:

  • Listings get suspended.
  • Accounts get banned.
  • Sellers lose entire businesses overnight.

Review manipulation isn’t worth it.

❌ Common Review Traps New Amazon Sellers Fall Into (And How to Avoid Them)

Let’s go through the biggest mistakes sellers make—and how you can stay clear of them:

1. Asking Friends and Family for Reviews

It feels harmless, right?
A quick text: “Hey, can you leave a review for my new Amazon product?”

🚫 Big mistake.

Amazon can detect:

  • Shared shipping addresses
  • IP addresses
  • Social media connections
  • Behavioral patterns

If Amazon suspects reviews came from your network, they’ll remove them—and possibly penalize you.

Avoid it:

  • Don’t ask friends, family, or anyone with a direct connection.
  • Focus on genuine, unbiased customer reviews.

2. Using Product Inserts That Violate TOS

Many sellers include product inserts with their items. That’s fine.
But how you word those inserts matters.

Against Amazon’s rules:

  • Asking for only positive reviews (“If you love it, leave a review!”)
  • Offering discounts, refunds, or incentives in exchange for a review
  • Directing customers off-Amazon for feedback

Allowed:

  • Neutral requests (“We’d love your honest feedback!”)
  • Thanking customers for their purchase
  • Providing support information

Avoid it:

  • Keep inserts informational, not promotional.
  • Request an honest review, not a positive one.

3. Running Giveaway Campaigns Tied to Reviews

Launching with giveaways can be great for building buzz.

But requiring a review in exchange for a giveaway is 100% against Amazon’s policies.

Even implying it (“We’d appreciate a review after you receive your free product!”) can get you flagged.

Avoid it:

  • If you run giveaways, do so without requiring or requesting reviews.
  • Focus on building awareness and organic traffic instead.

4. Joining Review Groups or “Seller Networks”

Some Facebook groups, Telegram chats, and seller forums offer review swaps:
“You buy my product, I’ll buy yours, we both leave reviews.”

🚫 Amazon watches for this behavior—and bans accounts involved.

Even large “review clubs” (posing as legitimate platforms) can be flagged.

Avoid it:

  • Never participate in review swaps or paid review schemes.
  • Build reviews organically or through Amazon-approved programs (like Vine).

5. Incentivizing Reviews with Discounts or Refunds

Some sellers offer partial refunds, gift cards, or future discounts in exchange for reviews.

Again: This is a clear violation.

Amazon’s review guidelines explicitly forbid:

  • Monetary compensation
  • Discounts tied to a review
  • Free products contingent on leaving a review

Avoid it:

  • Keep incentives (if used at all) separate from the review process.
  • Never mention compensation in review requests.

6. Requesting Reviews Multiple Times Unethically

You are allowed to request a review through Amazon’s system.
You are NOT allowed to:

  • Spam customers with repeated review requests
  • Pester customers for specific star ratings
  • Send manipulative language like “Please leave a 5-star review!”

Avoid it:

  • Use Amazon’s “Request a Review” button once per order.
  • Keep communication neutral and compliant.

🛡️ How to Build Reviews Safely and Effectively

If you can’t “hack” the system, how do you build reviews the right way?

1. Enroll in Amazon’s Vine Program

Amazon Vine allows sellers to give products to trusted reviewers in exchange for honest feedback.

  • Limited to products with fewer than 30 reviews.
  • You pay a flat fee to Amazon (currently around $200 per ASIN).
  • Reviews are marked as “Vine Voices.”

It’s 100% Amazon-approved and a great way to kickstart reviews for new launches.

2. Deliver an Outstanding Customer Experience

The best way to earn reviews?

👉 Blow customers away with product quality, packaging, and service.

  • Make unboxing a premium experience.
  • Provide fast, helpful customer support.
  • Send clear product usage instructions to prevent frustration.

Happy customers are far more likely to leave reviews organically.

3. Use the “Request a Review” Button

Inside Seller Central, for each order, you can click “Request a Review.”

  • Amazon sends a compliant email asking for a review and seller feedback.
  • No gray areas, no risk.

It’s simple, safe, and effective—especially if you automate it with tools like Helium 10, Jungle Scout, or Sellerboard.

4. Set Expectations in Product Inserts (Compliantly)

You can (and should) use product inserts to:

  • Thank customers for choosing your brand
  • Provide helpful product information
  • Invite honest feedback

Example Insert Language:

“Thank you for your purchase!
We’re a small business, and your feedback means the world to us.
Please share your honest experience with the Amazon community!”

No pressure. No incentives. Just a polite, neutral request.

5. Follow Up Smartly (But Carefully)

Some sellers use external email marketing lists (built from warranty registration pages, for example) to follow up.

If you do this, make sure:

  • Customers opt in willingly.
  • Messaging is helpful first (“How is your product? Need support?”)
  • Review requests are compliant.

Never pressure or incentivize through external follow-up.

📈 Bonus: Focus on Organic Flywheel Growth

Here’s the ultimate truth:

👉 The faster your product sells, the faster you’ll get organic reviews.

Reviews are a flywheel.
Sales drive reviews. Reviews drive sales.

Invest in:

  • High-quality PPC campaigns
  • Strong SEO-optimized listings
  • Attractive pricing and offers
  • Outstanding post-purchase experience

If you sell more, and deliver better, reviews will naturally follow.

✍️ Final Thoughts: Launch Smart. Protect Your Brand.

Launching on Amazon FBA is a high-stakes game.

Getting early reviews is essential—but doing it wrong can kill your momentum before you even get started.

Avoid the traps.
Follow Amazon’s rules.
Focus on quality, service, and smart strategies.

If you launch the right way, your brand can grow faster—and safer—than you ever imagined.

Need help planning a smart, compliant Amazon FBA launch?
At Marketplace Valet, we help sellers optimize launches, drive real growth, and protect their brands every step of the way.

📩 Let’s talk about launching smarter!

#AmazonFBA #AmazonReviews #MarketplaceValet #ProductLaunch #FBA2025 #AmazonCompliance #EcommerceGrowth #AmazonSellers #LaunchStrategy #SellOnAmazon

Why Amazon’s Name Generator Isn’t Worth Your Time

Choosing a brand name is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an Amazon seller.

Your name sets the tone for your brand.
It shapes first impressions.
It influences trust, click-through rates, conversions—and even how memorable your product becomes.

Unfortunately, many new sellers turn to Amazon’s free Name Generator tool, hoping it will deliver a quick fix.

Spoiler alert:
It almost never does.

In fact, relying on Amazon’s Name Generator could set you back, limit your brand potential, and make it harder to grow in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

In this post, we’ll cover:
✅ Why Amazon’s Name Generator isn’t the shortcut you need
✅ The real risks of generic branding
✅ What makes a great brand name
✅ How to craft a brand name that customers trust, love, and remember

Let’s jump in.

🧠 Why Your Brand Name Matters More Than You Think

Before we talk about the generator, let’s get clear: Your brand name isn’t just a label.

It’s a marketing tool.

It needs to:

  • Communicate value and trust quickly
  • Be memorable and easy to say
  • Set you apart from the sea of competitors
  • Align with your product positioning (luxury, affordable, eco-friendly, etc.)
  • Build emotional connection over time

In a marketplace like Amazon—where customers see 10+ product options in 2 seconds—your name plays a crucial role in whether they click or scroll past.

Good branding shortens the path to trust.
Bad branding makes it longer—or impossible.

🚨 Why Amazon’s Name Generator Falls Short

Amazon’s Name Generator sounds convenient, right?
Enter a few keywords, and it spits out a list of potential brand names.

The problem?

It’s not thinking about:
❌ Your ideal customer
❌ Your niche and competitive landscape
❌ Emotional resonance
❌ Longevity and scalability

It’s just smashing words together based on basic keyword associations.

Common results from the generator include:

  • Gibberish combos (e.g., “Flexora,” “Glimmit”)
  • Keyword-stuffed names (e.g., “Best Camping Gear Co”)
  • Boring, generic labels (e.g., “Quick Shop Supplies”)

Names like these might pass an initial “check the box” test.
But they fail where it matters most: creating brand affinity and standing out.

❌ 5 Big Risks of Using a Generic, Auto-Generated Brand Name

1. You Blend in With Everyone Else

Amazon is full of forgettable brands.

Auto-generated names sound just like everyone else—because they ARE like everyone else.

  • “Quick Fit Solutions”
  • “Prime Home Products”
  • “Super Gear Supplies”

There’s nothing distinctive, memorable, or exciting here.

If your name doesn’t stick, customers won’t either.

2. You Erode Trust at First Glance

Customers are more skeptical than ever.

If your brand sounds random, low-effort, or confusing, it triggers doubt:

  • “Is this a real company?”
  • “Is this product low quality?”
  • “Can I trust this seller?”

A professional, strategic name sets expectations—and builds credibility.

A random name raises red flags.

3. You Limit Your Expansion Opportunities

Maybe today you sell kitchen gadgets.

But what if you want to expand into home decor, fitness products, or travel accessories later?

If your name is hyper-specific (e.g., “Best Kitchen Deals Co”), you’re boxed in.

Good brand names give you room to grow.

Auto-generated names rarely think long-term.

4. You Create Legal and Trademark Headaches

Many auto-generated names are too close to existing trademarks.

  • If you choose a name that’s confusingly similar to another brand, you could face legal challenges.
  • Worse, Amazon could suspend your listings for IP violations.

Protecting your brand starts with picking a name you can legally own—not just one that “sounds okay” from a machine.

5. You Miss the Chance to Create Emotional Connection

Great brands don’t just describe what they sell.

They make customers feel something.

  • Adventure
  • Comfort
  • Luxury
  • Empowerment
  • Family
  • Simplicity

Auto-generated names rarely evoke emotion.
They’re functional, not inspirational.

And in today’s crowded marketplace, emotional brands win.

🏆 What Makes a Great Brand Name?

If Amazon’s generator isn’t the answer, what is?

Here’s what great brand names have in common:

1. Memorability

  • Easy to spell
  • Easy to say
  • Easy to remember

If someone can’t recall your name 5 minutes after seeing it, you’re fighting an uphill battle.

2. Emotional Resonance

Does your name hint at a feeling, a dream, or a transformation?

Names that evoke emotion tend to be:

  • Shorter
  • More evocative
  • More powerful in advertising and storytelling

3. Room to Expand

Great names don’t limit you to one narrow category.

They allow you to launch new products, enter new markets, and evolve your brand over time.

4. Positive Associations

Your name should either create:

  • A positive mental image (e.g., “Everest Gear” for outdoor equipment)
  • A positive emotional association (e.g., “LushNest” for cozy home products)

Avoid words with negative or confusing connotations.

5. Legal Viability

A good brand name:

  • Isn’t already trademarked
  • Has an available .com domain (or at least a logical variation)
  • Isn’t too close to major competitors’ names

Do your research before committing.

🛠️ How to Create a Brand Name That Actually Works

Instead of relying on a random generator, here’s a better process:

Step 1: Define Your Brand Identity

Before brainstorming names, answer:

  • Who is my ideal customer?
  • What feeling do I want the brand to evoke?
  • Where do I want the brand to be 5 years from now?

Clarity now prevents regret later.

Step 2: Brainstorm Around Core Concepts

Start with concepts, not just keywords.

  • Aspirations (e.g., adventure, success, comfort)
  • Imagery (e.g., mountains, gardens, technology)
  • Emotions (e.g., trust, empowerment, joy)

Mix and match ideas creatively.

Step 3: Play With Word Structures

Try:

  • Real words
  • Short invented words (easy to pronounce)
  • Word blends (Portmanteau: like Groupon = Group + Coupon)
  • Rhyming or alliteration (easy to remember)

Example Techniques:

  • Snap + Fresh → SnapFresh
  • Luna + Nest → LunaNest
  • Peak + Nova → PeakNova

Step 4: Vet Your Shortlist

For each finalist name:

  • Say it out loud. (Does it sound natural?)
  • Check basic trademarks (USPTO.gov for U.S.)
  • Check domain name availability.
  • Search Amazon to ensure it’s not overused.

Aim for a name that feels distinct but easy.

Step 5: Choose for Long-Term Brand Building

Pick a name you can:

  • Build a story around
  • Create strong visuals and packaging for
  • Expand into new product lines under

✍️ Final Thoughts: Build a Brand, Not Just a Product

Amazon’s Name Generator feels convenient.

But what you really need isn’t convenience—
You need confidence that your brand name can:

✅ Capture attention
✅ Build trust
✅ Stand out
✅ Grow with you over time

Your brand deserves more than a randomly generated label.
It deserves intention, creativity, and strategy.

Skip the shortcuts. Build something worth remembering.

Need help creating a brand strategy that wins on Amazon and beyond?
At Marketplace Valet, we help sellers build high-converting brands designed for long-term success.

📩 Let’s talk about building a brand that buyers love!

#AmazonFBA #BrandBuilding #MarketplaceValet #FBA2025 #EcommerceGrowth #AmazonSellers #BrandStrategy #EcommerceBranding #BrandNaming #SellOnAmazon

Stop Making These Keyword Negation Mistakes on Amazon Ads

Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising can drive massive growth for your business—but only if you manage it properly.
One of the easiest ways sellers lose thousands of dollars without even realizing it?

👉 Neglecting keyword negation.

Negative keywords are one of the most powerful tools in your Amazon advertising toolkit—and when used correctly, they can dramatically lower wasted spend, improve your ACoS, and drive more profitable sales.

But most sellers either don’t use them at all, or use them incorrectly.

In this guide, we’ll break down:
✅ Why keyword negation is crucial
✅ The biggest keyword negation mistakes Amazon sellers make
✅ How to fix them and set up a winning negative keyword strategy

Let’s save your ad budget—and scale your business the smart way.

🧠 What Are Negative Keywords?

Negative keywords tell Amazon where NOT to show your ads.

If a shopper’s search includes a word or phrase you’ve negated, your ad won’t appear—saving you from wasting money on low-quality traffic.

Example:

You sell high-end stainless steel water bottles for adults.
Someone searches for “kids water bottle cheap.”

Without negative keywords, your ad might show—and you’ll pay for a click from someone unlikely to buy your premium product.

But with smart negation?
Your ad won’t show, and you avoid paying for a wasted click.

Bottom line:
Negative keywords protect your ad budget and focus your spend on buyers who are most likely to convert.

🚨 The Cost of Neglecting Keyword Negation

  • Higher ad spend with lower returns
  • Poorer click-through rates (CTR)
  • Higher cost per acquisition (CPA)
  • Lower profitability overall
  • Missed opportunity to scale profitably

Amazon rewards ads that convert. If you send irrelevant traffic to your listings, your ads suffer—not just today, but long-term.

❌ The 7 Biggest Keyword Negation Mistakes Amazon Sellers Make

Let’s break down the most common (and costly) mistakes sellers make with negative keywords—and how to fix them.

1. Not Using Negative Keywords at All

The #1 mistake?
Simply ignoring negative keywords completely.

Many sellers launch broad match and auto campaigns… and just hope Amazon will deliver the right traffic.

Spoiler: It won’t.
Without negatives, you’ll attract tons of low-quality clicks from:

  • Bargain shoppers
  • Irrelevant product categories
  • Mismatched buyer intent

Fix it:
Start adding negative keywords from Day 1. Even a small list can make a big difference.

2. Neglecting Search Term Reports

Another big mistake: never reviewing your Search Term Reports.

Search Term Reports show exactly which real-world searches triggered your ads—and how they performed.

If you don’t audit them regularly:

  • You’ll keep paying for unprofitable terms.
  • You’ll never identify emerging trends.
  • You’ll miss huge optimization opportunities.

Fix it:
Audit your Search Term Reports weekly (or at least bi-weekly). Identify non-converting, irrelevant, or off-target search terms—and negate them.

3. Being Too Broad with Negative Keywords

Some sellers get overzealous and add broad negative keywords that block good traffic.

Example: You sell insulated coffee mugs.
You negatively target the word “mug” broadly because some irrelevant traffic showed up.
Result? You block ALL searches containing “mug”—even valuable ones like “insulated coffee mug 16oz.”

Fix it:
Use negative phrase match carefully—and reserve negative exact match when you only want to block specific search terms.

Understand how match types work:

  • Negative Exact Match: Blocks the search term only when it exactly matches.
  • Negative Phrase Match: Blocks if the phrase appears in the search query.

Be precise.

4. Neglecting Brand or Category Protection

If you sell premium products, you don’t want clicks from shoppers looking for “cheap,” “budget,” or “discount.”

Many sellers forget to add negative terms like:

  • Cheap
  • Discount
  • Clearance
  • Free
  • Used

These clicks almost never convert—and they inflate your ad costs.

Fix it:
Proactively add value mismatch terms as negatives to protect your brand positioning.

5. Using the Same Negatives Across All Campaigns

Not all campaigns have the same goals.

  • Discovery campaigns (broad match, auto) are designed for exploration.
  • Exact match campaigns target known winners.

Applying the same negative lists everywhere can cripple discovery campaigns—and leave them unable to find new profitable terms.

Fix it:
Tailor negative keyword lists to each campaign type:

  • Use lighter negatives on discovery campaigns.
  • Be more aggressive on manual exact campaigns.

6. Ignoring Seasonal or Temporary Negations

Sometimes keywords only become irrelevant for a short period.

Example:

  • Around Valentine’s Day, you sell generic giftable products.
  • After February 14, “Valentine’s Day gifts” traffic plummets in quality.

If you don’t update your negatives based on seasonality, you’ll waste spend chasing low-quality traffic after the peak has passed.

Fix it:

  • Monitor seasonality closely.
  • Add seasonal negatives when demand dies down.
  • Remove negatives when new seasonal opportunities arise.

7. Failing to Build a Master Negative List Over Time

Every time you identify a wasted search term, it’s valuable data.

Yet most sellers don’t maintain a running negative keyword master list.

They fix the same mistakes repeatedly across different campaigns—wasting time and money.

Fix it:
Create a master negative keyword list by category, product type, or brand.

Every time you find a bad search term, add it to the master file and apply it across all relevant campaigns.

🛠️ How to Build a Strong Keyword Negation System

Ready to stop wasting ad dollars?
Here’s how to set up a simple, repeatable negative keyword system:

Step 1: Weekly Search Term Audit

  • Download Search Term Reports weekly.
  • Highlight terms with 10–20+ clicks and no sales.
  • Identify clear mismatches in buyer intent.

Step 2: Create and Update Your Negative Keyword List

  • Group by campaign type (auto, manual broad, manual exact).
  • Add new negatives carefully based on match type.
  • Maintain a running master list in Google Sheets or Excel.

Step 3: Apply Negatives Strategically

  • Use Negative Exact Match for very specific bad terms.
  • Use Negative Phrase Match carefully for patterns (e.g., “cheap” searches).
  • Prioritize applying negatives where budgets are tightest first.

Step 4: Review Campaign Impact Monthly

  • Compare ACoS, CTR, and Conversion Rate before and after implementing new negatives.
  • Adjust and fine-tune over time.

📈 The Results of Smarter Negation

When you manage negative keywords properly, you can expect:

✅ Lower CPC (fewer wasted clicks)
✅ Lower ACoS (higher profitability)
✅ Higher conversion rates (better-qualified traffic)
✅ Better organic ranking (due to improved ad relevance)
✅ Faster scaling with sustainable margins

Smart negation isn’t just about saving money—it’s about scaling profitably.

✍️ Final Thoughts: Smarter Negation = Smarter Growth

Amazon PPC is only getting more competitive.

If you’re not actively controlling your traffic quality, you’re handing money over to competitors who are.

Negative keywords are your defense system:
They protect your campaigns from junk clicks, boost profitability, and sharpen your ad performance over time.

Stop making these keyword negation mistakes.
Start protecting your spend—and scaling smarter.

Need help optimizing your Amazon PPC strategy, including keyword sculpting and negation?
At Marketplace Valet, we help brands build smarter campaigns that drive real, sustainable growth.

📩 Let’s talk about cutting wasted spend and scaling your sales profitably!

#AmazonFBA #AmazonPPC #MarketplaceValet #KeywordNegation #AmazonAds #EcommerceGrowth #PPCStrategy #AdvertisingOptimization #FBA2025 #AmazonSellers